Retractable pen



W' B- SPATz RETRACTABLE PEN Jan 67 Aug. 4' :Lg-E.'

INVENTOR. Wurf/e 35H72,

E fag-2 fly E155 Patented Jan. 6, 1953 RETRACTABLE PEN Walter B. Spatz,Sun Valley, Calif., asslgnor to Frawley Corporation, Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation of California Application August 4, 1950, SerialNo. 177,627

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a retractable writing implement, and included inthe objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an extending and retracting mechanism for writingimplements whereby alternate depression of a button at the remote end ofthe implement extends and retracts the operating end of the implement.

Second. to provide a mechanism of this class wherein the operating endof the writing impiement automatically retracts should it be subjectedto shock loads as might occur if the implement were dropped.

Third, to provide a mechanism of this class which incorporates a springlatch and trip mechanism of exceedingly simple and inexpensiveconstruction, yet which is inherently dependable in its operation,capable of withstanding an extremely large number of operations withoutfailure.

Fourth, to provide a mechanism of this class which is inherently simpleto assemble, thus enabling a writing implement to be equipped with anextending and retracting means at nominal cost.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of my retractablewriting implement.

Figure 2 is a partially sectional partially elevational view thereof ina plane parallel with Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through B-lof Figure 2 showing the parts in their positions occupied when thewriting element is extended, this being the position of the parts shownin the preceding views. Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5showing the operating button depressed and in the act of unlatching thecatch spring.

Figure 7 is a similar sectional view showing the operating buttonreleased and the writing element in its retracted position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, partially sectional, partially elevationalview similar to Figure 2, but showing the latching spring and associatedparts in the position assumed when the writing element is retracted.

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the operatin g button depressed inthe process of extending the writing element.

(Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

Figure 10 is a composite view showing the upper case splitlongitudinally.

Figure l1 is a perspective view of the operating button.

Figure l2 is another enlarged fragmentary perspective view of theoperating button showing the lower portion thereof which manipulates thelatching spring. v

My retractable writing implement includes a writing unit I which isshown as a ball point pen unit but may be a pencil unit or otherscribing tool. The writing unit is cylindrical with a reduced lower end2 and is slidably supported in a lower case 3 and upper case 4 which arescrew threaded together. The reduced end 2 is surrounded by a retiactingspring 5 which bears against the shoulder provided at the lower portionof the case 3. The lower and upper case are formed separately to permitreplacement of the writing unit.

The upper case 4 is permanently enclosed in a shell 6. The upper casereceives a latch spring 1 comprising a length of wire bent at one end toform an anchor Il which fits in a radial hole in the case 4. 'I'heportion of the latch spring adjacent the anchor 8 lies in alongitudinally extending retainer groove 9 formed in the case 4. Theshell 6 maintains the latch spring in place. Above the retainer groove9, the case 4 is provided with a clearance slot I0 which exposes aportion of the upper extremity of the writing unit I. The upper end ofthe latch spring 1 is folded to form a triangular latch loop II. Thelatch end of the spring 1 is capable of both radial and circumferentialmovement relative to the upper portion of the writing unit within thelimits of the clearance slot.

Mounted within the shell 6 above the case 4 is an operating pin I2 whichprotrudes through an opening in the end of the shell 6 to form anoperating button I3. Within the shell 8, the operating pin I2 isprovided with a shoulder I4 which is engaged by a return spring I5, theother extremity of which bears against the upper end of the case 4. Thecase 4 and the lower portion of the pin I2 are provided vwith splines I6so that the pin is axially slidable but nonrotatable. The lower portionof the pin I2 is provided with a clearance notch I1, one side of whichis bordered by a grooved shoulder I8.

Operation of my retractable writing implement is as follows:

The latch spring normally occupies, or tends to occupy, the positionshown in Figures 1 through 5. In this position,` the latch loop is inits inner and clockwise position as viewed in 3 Figures 2, 3 and 4. Inthis position, the latch loop overlies the upper end of the writing unitand holds it in its extended position. Starting with this position,depression of the button I3 causes the grooved shoulder Il to engage thelatch loop II and act as a camming means to move the latch radiallyoutwardly. The surface of the shoulder It coincides with the surface ofthe writing unit so that when the button I3 -is released and Spring Iurges the writing unit to its retracted position, the latch loop ridesonto the surface of the writing unit. Inasmuch as this surface is roundand the force of the latch spring is radially inward this surface-.functions as a camming surface and the latch loop is biased or deflectedlaterally or circumferentially in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Figures 3 and 4, so as to occupy the position shown in Figures'7 and 8.

With the writing unit retracted and the latch spring in its lateraldisplaced position shown by Figures 7 and 8, depression of theprotruding button as shown in Figure 9 causes the latch spring II topress into the notch I1 along the side of the shoulder I8 and catch thetop of the writing unit as the button I3 isreleased. Return movement ofthe button until the lower end of the pin I2 clears the writing unitallows the latch spring 1 to snap in a direction transverse to theradial movement which occurred prior to the latching and return to theposition as shown in Figures 1 through 5.

Thus, if the writing unit is extended, depression and release of thebutton effects retraction of the writing unit, whereas if the writingunit is retracted, similar depression and release of the button causesthe writing unit to be extended.

The shape of the latch loop II is such that if excessive upward pressureis exerted on the tip of the writing unit, the spring is forced torelease the writing unit. Thus, should the implement be dropped or thetip of the writing unit be caused to strike an object, the spring 'Ireleases the writing unit before damage is done.

Having fully /described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a writing implement; a case, a writing element having an inner endand an outer end, said element being longitudinally slidable in saidcase between extended and retracted positions, retracting means urgingsaid element to said retracted position, a latch spring fixed in saidcase and having a latch end adapted to overlie and engage the inner endof said writing element to hold said element in its extended position,said latch end being movable in a substantially radial plane and in adirection transverse to said plane and being biased to seek a positionin said plane overlying the inner end of said element movable releasingmeans in said case arranged to engage said latch end and move the sameoutwardly in said plane clear of the inner end of said element to permitsaid retracting means to retract said element, a cam surface on saidelement adjacent '4 said inner end, said latch end engaging said camsurface when said element is retracted and being guided thereby to aposition alongside said element but transversely displaced from saidplane, movable projecting means in said case engageable with saidelement to move the same to its extended position whereupon said latchvend is permitted to move transversely toward said plane to againoverlie the inner end of said writing element substantially in saidplane.

2. A writing implement as dened in claim 1 wherein said latch springcomprises a spring wire mounted at one end on said case and extendinglongitudinally therein, said latch end comprising a bent portion at thefree end of said spring wire.

3. A writingimplement as deilned in claim 1 wherein said writing elementis of cylindrical shape at its inner end, the cylindrical surfacethereof comprising said cam surface.

4. A writing implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasingmeans and said projecting means are carried by a plunger reciprocable insaid case.

5. A writing implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasingmeans and said projecting means comprise fixed portions of a plungerlongitudinally reciprocable in said case. and spring means biasing saidplunger in the direction of retraction of said writing element.

6. A writing implement as deilned in claim 1 including a plungerslidable in said casing in alignment with said writing element, alongitudinal groove in a side portion of said plunger comi prising saidreleasing means, an end face of said plunger being engageable with saidinner end and comprising said projecting means, said plunger being cutaway to expose a portion of said inner end of said writing elementtransversely of said plane to permit said latch end to move toward saidplane and over said exposed portion of said inner end while said plungeris still in engagement with said inner end.

'7. A writing implement as dened in claim 1 wherein said latch springcomprises an elongated spring element fixed at one end to said case at asubstantial distance radially outwardly of said writing element, saidspring element extending generally longitudinally within said case awayfrom said outer end and radially inwardly thereof from said one end,said latch end being at the free end of said spring element andoverlying said inner end whereby the application of undue force to saidwriting element in a retracting direction will apply a sufllcientlylarge moment to said spring element to release said latch end and permitretraction of said writing element.

WALTER B. SPATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

